Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced its latest initiative in advancing its electromobility offering to the mid-size range. The company has developed a solution to convert the L120 wheel loader to electric, enabling the same performance as its diesel counterpart, but with zero emissions and near-silent operation. The 20-ton L120H Electric Conversion was developed in partnership with Parker Hannifin and converted by Volvo Group’s CE Engineering Solutions, and it will be commercially available for selected customers in Europe during 2023.
Volvo CE’s partnership approach with CE Engineering Solutions and selected electromobility partners enables the acceleration of the availability of commercialized electric solutions across all segments and applications. The latest collaboration expands Volvo CE’s line of electric wheel loaders and follows the company’s investment in Dutch manufacturer Limach in June 2022, which broadened the company’s electric excavator portfolio.
The L120H Electric Conversion offers a new business model that makes it easy for customers to go electric. With 240 kWh batteries, it provides a runtime of approximately five hours in most medium-duty applications and is estimated to charge from 0-100% in just 1.5-2 hours, consistent with Volvo’s existing charging solutions.
The L120H Electric Conversion features standard Comfort Drive Control, Load Assist with On-Board Weighing, and radar detection with Volvo’s new Collision Mitigation System. Additionally, the conversion will be supported by dedicated electromobility applications that allow the operator to check battery and charging status and preheat the cab.
Depending on market demand, the L120H Electric Conversion brings the possibility of converting existing customers’ L120H wheel loaders to electric in the future.
Carl Slotte, Head of Sales Region Europe at Volvo CE, said, “Our commitment to partnership allows us to take a leading position in transforming our industry, with electric solutions that are built to fulfill market demand and tailored to suit the changing needs of our customers. Working together, we are scaling up our portfolio of electric machines, extending the versatility of our range and transforming our industry towards a carbon-neutral future.”
Volvo CE has set out its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, with significant emission reductions as early as 2030, as part of the Science Based Targets initiative. The company’s partnership approach allows for speedier implementation to the market, which is necessary for the construction industry to achieve carbon reduction targets.
